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God hates all Norwegians, but He especially hates the Godless Swiss. 
Switzerland to adopt new ‘godless’ national anthem
When you hear the name “Switzerland,” you may think of chocolates, cuckoo clocks, secretive banks or the Swiss Alps, but it’s also a modern country sensitive to the needs and values of a changing population. That’s why the government decided they want a new national anthem; one that better reflects the values of the Swiss constitution. This week they announced a competition for it.
So what’s wrong with the current anthem?
Well, it’s a psalm, with God, Heaven and prayer in it. In fact, it’s even called the Swiss Psalm. Here’s a sample (in English translation):
When the morning skies grow red,
and over us their radiance shed
Thou, O Lord, appeareth in their light
when the alps glow bright with splendor,
pray to God, to Him surrender
for you feel and understand
that He dwelleth in this land.
In the sunset Thou art night
and beyond the starry sky
Thou, O loving father, ever near,
when to Heaven we are departing
joy and bliss Thou’lt be imparting
for we feel and understand
that Thou dwellest in this land. http://german.about.com/library/blmus_anthemCH.htm
From BBC News:
"The real problem is above all the text," Mr Niederberger said. He is in the Swiss Society for Public Utility (SGG), the competition organiser. The SGG, founded in 1810, seeks to promote Swiss values and has previously launched social and cultural initiatives.
"Officially the anthem is a psalm, a prayer, but of course we have an open society, religiously neutral. We have atheists, no single god, so this anthem is a difficulty," he explained by phone.
The religious demographics of Switzerland are changing rapidly.
According to the Swiss governments own figures, by 2000, only 16% of the population claimed that religion was “very important” to them. Moreover, 11.1% of the population followed no religion at all. A 2006 report on atheism around the world by Impact Labs reveals the percentage of Swiss who said they don’t believe in God had risen to 27% and the number is still rising.
Still, it’s not simply demographics that's driving the change in anthems. It's a change in the national perspective (BBC):
The SGG says the preamble to the Swiss constitution "forms the textual basis for the new national anthem".
It speaks of the Swiss people's "striving... to strengthen their freedom and democracy, independence and peace in solidarity and openness to the world". It also speaks of "living together in mutual consideration and respect for differences".
The competition for the new anthem is open to Swiss nationals and resident foreigners only. Submissions may be handed in from January 1 through June 30, 2014. A panel of 25 judges will choose a winner and three runners-ups. The top prize of SFr10,000 (£7,080; $10,745) will be awarded in 2015. Runners-up will receive SFr5,000, SFr3,000 and SFr1,000 respectively.
The winning anthem will be presented to the Swiss government for final approval.
When you hear the name “Switzerland,” you may think of chocolates, cuckoo clocks, secretive banks or the Swiss Alps, but it’s also a modern country sensitive to the needs and values of a changing population. That’s why the government decided they want a new national anthem; one that better reflects the values of the Swiss constitution. This week they announced a competition for it.
So what’s wrong with the current anthem?
Well, it’s a psalm, with God, Heaven and prayer in it. In fact, it’s even called the Swiss Psalm. Here’s a sample (in English translation):
When the morning skies grow red,
and over us their radiance shed
Thou, O Lord, appeareth in their light
when the alps glow bright with splendor,
pray to God, to Him surrender
for you feel and understand
that He dwelleth in this land.
In the sunset Thou art night
and beyond the starry sky
Thou, O loving father, ever near,
when to Heaven we are departing
joy and bliss Thou’lt be imparting
for we feel and understand
that Thou dwellest in this land. http://german.about.com/library/blmus_anthemCH.htm
From BBC News:
"The real problem is above all the text," Mr Niederberger said. He is in the Swiss Society for Public Utility (SGG), the competition organiser. The SGG, founded in 1810, seeks to promote Swiss values and has previously launched social and cultural initiatives.
"Officially the anthem is a psalm, a prayer, but of course we have an open society, religiously neutral. We have atheists, no single god, so this anthem is a difficulty," he explained by phone.
The religious demographics of Switzerland are changing rapidly.
According to the Swiss governments own figures, by 2000, only 16% of the population claimed that religion was “very important” to them. Moreover, 11.1% of the population followed no religion at all. A 2006 report on atheism around the world by Impact Labs reveals the percentage of Swiss who said they don’t believe in God had risen to 27% and the number is still rising.
Still, it’s not simply demographics that's driving the change in anthems. It's a change in the national perspective (BBC):
The SGG says the preamble to the Swiss constitution "forms the textual basis for the new national anthem".
It speaks of the Swiss people's "striving... to strengthen their freedom and democracy, independence and peace in solidarity and openness to the world". It also speaks of "living together in mutual consideration and respect for differences".
The competition for the new anthem is open to Swiss nationals and resident foreigners only. Submissions may be handed in from January 1 through June 30, 2014. A panel of 25 judges will choose a winner and three runners-ups. The top prize of SFr10,000 (£7,080; $10,745) will be awarded in 2015. Runners-up will receive SFr5,000, SFr3,000 and SFr1,000 respectively.
The winning anthem will be presented to the Swiss government for final approval.
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